Claim OwnershipThe Dental CEO Podcast
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Welcome to the Dental CEO® Podcast — where Dr. Scott Leune applies proven business strategies from leading entrepreneurs and CEOs to the complexities of dental practice ownership.
In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day.
From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.
In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day.
From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.
51 Episodes
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Dental imaging was never designed for today’s reality of AI, multi-location practices, cloud workflows, virtual teams, and data-driven decision-making—and it’s starting to show. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dustin Johnson, Co-Founder and CTO of SOTA Cloud, to explain why server-based, siloed imaging systems are quietly costing practices time, money, and growth, while limiting access to the very data modern dentistry depends on. They unpack how cloud-based imaging transforms referrals, case acceptance, data security, staff accountability, and scalability, why startups must get this right from day one, and why established practices that delay this shift are already falling behind in both business performance and patient care.
Rising construction costs have made dental office design one of the biggest financial risk factors in a startup. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Chris Raba, owner of Lean Dental Design, to explain how poor space planning, bloated layouts, and inefficient design decisions quietly drive up construction costs and leave dentists over budget before they ever open. They break down why usable square footage matters more than total size, how small design choices can create massive cost swings, and why detailed planning and value engineering are now essential in today’s construction climate. If you’re planning a startup, relocation, or expansion, this episode shows how smarter design can protect your budget and your long-term success
Eric Masson, Partner at Eskow Law Group, joins Scott Leune on The Dental CEO Podcast to break down the legal strategies dentists need when starting, buying, or growing a practice. Drawing from years of experience in healthcare transactions, Eric explains why lease agreements are often landlord-friendly, why legal counsel should be involved before signing a Letter of Intent, and how to properly structure associate agreements, non-competes, and partnerships to avoid costly disputes. He also shares insights on deal fatigue, partner buy-outs, and DSO structures for asset protection, estate planning, and easier access to capital—providing essential legal knowledge every dental practice owner should understand.
Most lawsuits in dentistry don’t start with patients—they start with employees. This episode breaks down how common HR missteps like unclear policies, poor documentation, and bad advice turn everyday staff issues into legal problems. A direct conversation on what actually puts dental practices at risk and how to avoid it.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune speaks with orthodontist and entrepreneur Dr. Ingrid Murra about the current state of clear aligner therapy, examining how incentive structures, training gaps, and rapid adoption have influenced patient outcomes and provider profitability. They discuss collaboration between general dentists and orthodontists, the role of virtual monitoring in improving compliance, the importance of maintaining high clinical standards at scale, and lessons from building a dental business beyond the operatory.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, founder of Practice By Numbers, to challenge dentists to rethink how their practices operate. The conversation explores how automation and data-driven systems can replace time-consuming “junk work” like insurance verification, scheduling, collections, phone management, and reporting—freeing teams to focus on patients instead of paperwork. Scott and Dr. Agarwal break down what it means to run a dental practice from a true CEO perspective, how to create consistency across operations, improve collections and case acceptance, reduce staff burnout, and build a calmer, more professional practice environment. This episode is essential listening for dentists who are ready to simplify operations, scale intelligently, and lead their practice with clarity and control.
1In this episode, Scott breaks down how to reinvent the patient experience so thoroughly that patients can’t stop talking about your practice. From modern design and comfort-focused amenities to digital workflows, high-tech diagnostics, and frictionless communication, he outlines the systems and touches that build trust, increase case acceptance, and elevate your brand. Whether you're launching a startup or transforming the practice you already own, this blueprint shows how an exceptional patient experience can reshape your career and dramatically grow your practice.
Leadership looks different for female dentists—and it often comes with unfair labels, blurred boundaries, and added pressure at home and in the practice. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Curve Dental President Jana Macon to discuss the real challenges women navigate in leadership and how they can set healthier boundaries, communicate clearly, build a strong results-driven culture, while reducing unnecessary demands on their time and energy and protecting their well-being.
Real estate is one of the highest-stakes—and most overlooked—financial decisions in dentistry, and in this episode Scott sits down with Colin Carr, CEO of CARR, to reveal how lease renewals, poorly negotiated terms, missed concessions, and uninformed decisions routinely cost dentists hundreds of thousands of dollars over their careers. From TI allowances and free rent to assignability clauses, tax strategy, and the true wealth-building potential of owning your building, this conversation breaks down the strategies every dentist needs but almost no one is taught. Whether you're planning a startup, buying a practice, or approaching a renewal, this episode will reshape how you think about real estate and protect the future of your practice.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Kevin Tallman, CEO of Mango Voice, to discuss how AI-powered phone systems are transforming dental practices. Drawing on data from more than 12,000 practices, they reveal how much revenue is lost through missed calls and how AI receptionists are already improving patient interactions and operational efficiency. This concise, insight-packed conversation shows dentists exactly where phone technology is headed and how to prepare for the changes ahead.
In this episode, Scott Leune and Dr. Christian Coachman break down how to use technology, storytelling, and a differentiated “Apple Store” patient experience to dramatically increase case acceptance. Learn how mastering planning, guided execution, and emotional dentistry can elevate your reputation, attract better cases, and transform your career.
This episode of The Dental CEO Podcast offers a clear, practical breakdown of how dentists can finally take control of their financials. Dr. Scott Leune explains the key numbers every practice owner must track, the overhead targets that separate average practices from highly profitable ones, and why messy financial statements lead to years of lost income. You’ll learn how to spot overspending, diagnose collection problems, and evaluate a practice before buying it—all with the goal of increasing profit and reducing stress. It’s a straightforward reset for any dentist ready to understand their numbers and make more money with less chaos.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune talks with Jesse Israel — keynote speaker, mindfulness teacher, and founder of The Big Quiet — about how leaders can cut through the constant noise of modern life to regain clarity, purpose, and control. Jesse shares his “Four S’s” framework—Stillness, Solo Time, Slow Technology, and Saying No Thank You—to help reduce stress, sharpen focus, and create space for what truly matters. Tune in to learn how to quiet the chaos, lead with intention, and tap into your unique zone of genius both in business and in life.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune shares powerful insights on turning setbacks into momentum and embracing the process of reinvention. He explores how decisive action, adaptability, and consistent effort—not perfection—drive lasting growth. Through real-world examples and lessons drawn from leadership and business, Dr. Leune challenges listeners to stop overanalyzing, start moving, and create the next chapter in both their practice and their life.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune breaks down how to staff a dental practice efficiently at every stage—from the early days of a startup with one assistant and a single front office team member to a mature, high-performing practice with multiple hygienists, assistants, and virtual support. He explains when to expand, how to balance roles across the front and back office, and why each doctor needs a specific ratio of operatories, team members, and hygiene columns to operate smoothly. You’ll learn how to use virtual assistants to control overhead, avoid overstaffing traps, and create a staffing model that keeps your schedule full, your team aligned, and your practice running at its highest potential.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune exposes the hidden pricing structures that leave private dentists paying more for supplies and labs than the largest DSOs. He breaks down how corporate distributors and traditional buying groups have quietly maintained inflated costs through exclusive contracts, nondisclosure agreements, and overlapping ownership—keeping independent practices at a disadvantage. Dr. Leune explains why it’s time for private dentists to rethink how they buy, what’s really driving pricing inequities across the industry, and how shifting to modern, privately held suppliers through focused alliances like the Private Dental Alliance (PDA) can finally level the playing field. This is a must-listen for any dentist ready to take control of their costs and reclaim their competitive edge.
Dental teams want—and deserve—to be paid more. The challenge is that practices are also facing higher costs across the board, from supplies and labs to rent and debt. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains how practices can afford to pay top salaries without sacrificing profitability. He shares how maintaining healthy ratios, maximizing hygiene production, improving case acceptance, filling schedule gaps, and implementing a simple weekly bonus plan can create a practice where team members are paid at the highest levels, owners stay profitable, and everyone wins.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explores how virtual assistants are reshaping the modern dental practice. He breaks down why overburdened front desks, rising staffing costs, and hiring challenges make the VA-supported model so powerful. From insurance verification and patient recalls to answering missed calls and streamlining workflows, listeners will learn how practices can offload non-clinical tasks to highly trained virtual team members at a fraction of the cost. This model not only reduces stress for in-office teams but also drives profitability, elevates patient care, and creates sustainable growth for practices of all sizes.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune explores how dentistry is evolving around the world—and why the U.S. remains years ahead when it comes to the business side of practice ownership. From the rise of DSOs in Australia and Canada to untapped opportunities across Europe and beyond, Scott explains what non-U.S. dentists can learn from the American model to accelerate growth and scale more effectively. He also shares stories of dentists who applied U.S.-based business strategies abroad and multiplied their success, offering a roadmap for anyone looking to stay ahead in the rapidly changing global dental landscape.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Irene Janku—hygienist, educator, and practice owner in Toronto—about one of the most unconventional but thought-provoking models in dentistry: hygienist-owned practices. Together, they explore how this model works legally and financially, what it means for dentists and hygienists working side by side, and why it could reshape how practices are structured and staffed. From funding hurdles to systemization to the potential of dentist-hygienist partnerships, this conversation challenges assumptions and opens the door to new possibilities for independent dentistry.
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